Broadcast receiver and recording method

ABSTRACT

A broadcast receiver is provided which can prevent recording of uncopyable contents without failing to record copyable contents. A copy information detecting unit ( 4 ) detects copy control information attached to contents. A discriminating unit ( 5 ) discriminates the copyability or uncopyability. The contents recorded in a user-unreadable recording unit ( 6 ) is transferred to a user-readable recording unit ( 7 ) only if copyable.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a broadcast receiver for receivingbroadcast contents and, in particular, to a broadcast receiver includinga recording unit for recording broadcast contents.

BACKGROUND ART

With the development of recent digital technologies, fraud copies ofvideo and/or audio contents in digital broadcasting have been increased.Therefore, the copyright protection has become important.

Conventionally, in order to prevent the fraud, Macrovision (whereMacrovision is a trademark of MacroVision in the U.S.), CGMS (CopyGeneration Management System)-A and so on exist as copy control systemsfor analog interfaces.

Macrovision is a copy guard system broadly used for commerciallyavailable video sources, satellite broadcasts and so on. Macrovisionadopts a copy control method for preventing an output source from beingnormally recorded by causing AGC (Automatic Gain Control) of a videodeck to malfunction.

CGMS-A adopts a copy control method for outputting contents having copycontrol information such as “copyable”, “only one generation copyable”and “uncopyable”.

On the other hand, for digital outputs to a digital video, for example,DTCP (Digital Transmission Copy Protection) is used, for example.

DTCP is a standard for encoding and exchanging data between digitaldevices connected by using IEEE-1394 (Institute of Electrical andElectronics Engineers 1394) and has a function for exchanging copycontrol information. Thus, controls for inhibiting copies and/orpermitting the copy of one generation only are allowed.

Contents include copy control information thereof. The copy controlinformation is detected by a copy control information detecting circuitof the broadcast receiver. Copyability and uncopyability thereof can bejudged by a microcontroller. Signals output from a player such as a VTR(Video Tape Recorder) may also include copy control information.

However, a certain amount of time is required from the detection of copycontrol information to the judgement of copyability/uncopyability inorder to prevent false detection due to noise, for example. Whencontents during the period is recorded in a storage device such as anHDD (Hard Disk Drive), uncopyable contents may be also recorded before aresult from the judgement regarding copy control information isconfirmed, which is a problem. On the other hand, once the recordingstarts after the judgement result is confirmed, video scenes and/oraudio and data contents that a user needs to record may be missed, whichis another problem.

Multiple copy control systems such as the CGMS-A and Macrovision mayexist. In this case, the uncopyability is detected by one of copycontrol information detecting circuits and is judged by themicrocontroller. Thus, the other copy control information detectingcircuits are not required. However, due to the communication of detecteddata between the copy control information detecting circuits and themicrocontroller, the processing performance of the microcontroller isreduced. In addition, in order to continue the detection, extra power isconsumed in the copy control information detecting circuits, which isanother problem.

When multiple copy control systems exist, priority may not be given tocopy information detection. In this case, all of detection and judgementare always performed, and the processing becomes redundant thereby,which is another problem.

The present invention was made in view of these points. It is an objectof the present invention to provide a broadcast receiver, which cannotplay broadcast contents until the permission for copying thereof isdetermined.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In order to overcome these problems, according to the invention, thereis provided a broadcast receiver having a recording unit for recordingcontents characterized by an input unit for receiving a command forrecording the contents from a user, a contents receiving unit forreceiving the contents, a copy information detecting unit for detectingcopy control information including at least information relating tocopyability or uncopyability of the contents from the contents, adiscriminating unit for discriminating the copyability or uncopyabilityof the contents based on the copy control information, a user-unreadablefirst recording unit for recording the contents in accordance with therecord command, and a user-readable second recording unit for receivingthe contents from the first recording unit only when the contents iscopyable.

Under this construction, contents recorded in the first recording unitin accordance with the record command is not transferred to the userreadable second recording unit until the copyability is determined.

There is further provided a method for recording contents having copycontrol information including at least information relating tocopyability or uncopyability, the method characterized by the steps ofstoring the contents in a user-unreadable first recording medium,discriminating the copy control information of the contents,transferring the contents to a user-readable second recording medium bythe first recording medium if copyable, and not transferring thecontents to the second recording medium by the first recording medium ifuncopyable.

Under this method, contents recorded in the first recording unit inaccordance with the record command is not transferred to the userreadable second recording unit until the copyability is determined.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a broadcast receiver according toan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a recording method.

FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of a digital broadcastreceiver.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state of control of a copy informationdetecting portion.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a recording method.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below withreference to drawings.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a broadcast receiver according toan embodiment of the invention.

A broadcast receiver 1 includes an input unit 2 receiving a command forrecording or playing contents in response to an input by a user via aremote control 2 a, a contents receiving unit 3 for receiving contents,a copy information detecting unit 4 for detecting, from contents, copycontrol information including information relating to at leastcopyability/uncopyability of the contents, a judging unit 5 for judgingthe copyability/uncopyability of broadcast contents based on copycontrol information, a user-unreadable recording unit 6 for recordingbroadcast contents in accordance with a record command, a user-readablerecording unit 7 for receiving contents from the recording unit 6 onlywhen the contents is copyable, and a signal output controlling unit 8for selecting one of the copy information detecting unit 4 and therecording unit 7 and causing a display apparatus 8 a to output broadcastcontents.

An operation of the broadcast receiver 1 will be described below.

When the contents receiving unit 3 receives broadcast contents providedfrom a broadcast station or contents input from an external apparatussuch as a VTR (Video Tape Recorder) the signal output control unit 8outputs and plays the received contents to the display apparatus 8 athrough the copy information detecting unit 4.

Here, when a command for recording contents is input by a user'smanipulation on the remote control 2 a, the signal is received by theinput unit 2. The signal output control unit 8 receives contents andtransfers the contents to the recording unit 6. The recording unit 6 isuser-unreadable, and the information of contents stored therein cannotbe referred. Here, the signal output control unit 8 may output thecontents to the display apparatus 8 a.

Contents received by the contents receiving unit 3 include copy controlinformation including information relating to thecopyability/uncopyability for preventing fraud copies. This is detectedby the copy information detecting unit 4 and is transferred to thejudging unit 5.

The judging unit 5 judges whether the received contents is copyable oruncopyable with reference to the received copy control information.Here, if the copyability is judged, a command for transferring contentsto the recording unit 7 is sent to the recording unit 6. The recordingunit 6 transfers the contents to the recording unit 7. If theuncopyability is judged, the contents are not transferred from therecording unit 6 to the recording unit 7. Then, for example, the datarecorded in the recording unit 6 is deleted.

The recording unit 7 can output contents to the signal output controlunit 8. When a command for playing recorded contents is input by a uservia the remote control 2 a, the command is received by the input unit 2.The signal output control unit 8 displays on the display apparatus 8 athe contents stored in the recording unit 7.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating processing for recording contents.

When a command for recording contents is input by a user, the signaloutput control unit 8 records the contents into the user-unreadablerecording unit 6 (S1). Next, copy control information attached to thecontents detected by the copy information detecting unit 4 is judgedwith respect to the copyability/uncopyability by the judging unit 5. Ifcopyable, the processing advances to a step S3. If uncopyable, theprocessing ends (S2). If the copyability is judged, the contentsrecorded in the user-unreadable recording unit 6 is transferred to theuser-readable recording unit 7. Then, the processing ends (S3).

As described above, copy control information attached to contents isdetected by the copy information detecting unit 4, and the copyabilityor uncopyability of the contents is judged by the judging unit 5. Thecontents recorded in the user-unreadable recording unit 6 is transferredto the user-readable recording unit 7 only when the contents iscopyable. Thus, copyable contents can be recorded without delay.

Furthermore, uncopyable contents can be prevented from recording in theuser-readable recording unit 7.

Details of this embodiment will be described below.

FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of a digital broadcastreceiver according to this embodiment of the invention.

A digital broadcast receiver 10 according to this embodiment of theinvention includes a remote control receiving portion 11 for receiving acommand input by a user through a manipulation of a remote control 20,an external signal input portion 12 for receiving analog external inputsignal from a VTR, for example, a digital broadcast receiving portion 13for receiving a digital broadcast, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 14for receiving signals from the external signal input portion 12, thedigital broadcast receiving portion 13 and the remote control receivingportion 11, a user-unreadable recording device 15 operating under thecontrol of the CPU 14, a user-readable recording device 16, which isconnected to the recording device 15, and a signal output controlportion 17 operating in response to a command from the CPU 14 andoutputting transferred contents to the recording device 15, a monitor(not shown) or the like.

Furthermore, the external signal input portion 12 includes a low-passfilter (LPF) 12 a receiving externally input signals and an A/D(Analog/Digital) converter 12 b, which are connected in series, and copyinformation detecting portions 12 c and 12 d connected to the A/Dconverter 12 b in parallel. The A/D converter 12 b is connected to thesignal output control portion 17, to which a processed signal is outputfrom the A/D converter 12 b. The copy information detecting portions 12c and 12 d are connected to the CPU 14 to which detected copy controlinformation is output.

The digital broadcast receiving portion 13 includes a front-end portion13 a having a tuner (not shown), a demultiplexer portion 13 b fordemultiplexing TS (Transport Stream) signals, a decoder portion 13 c fordecoding encoded data, which are connected in series. The demultiplexerportion 13 b is connected to the CPU 14 to which the copy controlinformation separated and detected here is output.

Functions of the components will be described below.

The remote control receiving portion 11 receives a command input by auser via the remote control 20 through infrared rays and converts thecommand to the data in a format processable by the CPU 14.

The external signal input portion 12 will be described below.

The LPF 12 a receives analog signals of contents from an externalapparatus such as a VTR, not shown, and removes high frequency noise.The analog signals processed by the LPF 12 a are transmitted to the A/Dconverter 12 b and the copy information detecting portions 12 c and 12d. The A/D converter 12 b converts the analog signals to digital signalsand transmits the digital signals to the signal output control portion17. Copy control information attached to the contents is detected by thecopy information detecting portions 12 c and 12 d. The detected copycontrol information is transmitted to the CPU 14.

CGMS-A and Macrovision are known as analog copy control systems. Thecopy information detecting portions 12 c and 12 d correspond todifferent copy control systems, respectively.

The digital broadcast receiving portion 13 will be described.

The front-end portion 13 a receives and demodulates RF (Radio Frequency)signals. The demultiplexer portion 13 b has a function demultiplexingmultiplexed TS signals. Here, copy control information is also retrievedfrom the multiplexed TS signals. Demultiplexed audio and/or videosignals are decoded by the decoder portion 13 c and are output to thesignal output control portion 17. The retrieved copy control informationis transmitted to the CPU 14.

The CPU 14 reads the copy control information transmitted from theexternal signal input portion 12 or the digital broadcast receivingportion 13 and judges whether the received contents is copyable oruncopyable. Furthermore, in response to an input from a user, the CPU 14controls the output selection of the signal output control portion 17.

The recording device 15 is a user-unreadable recording device and may bea semiconductor memory. Alternatively, a hard disk may be used, and anunreadable area may be provided therein.

Furthermore, the recording device 15 has a function temporarilyrecording contents transferred from the signal output control portion 17as record data when a command for recording the contents is given from auser. Here, the recorded contents is transferred to the recording device16 only when the CPU 14 gives a transfer command to the recording device16.

The recording device 16 is a user-readable recording device and may be ahard disk.

The recording device 16 is connected to the user-unreadable recordingdevice 15. If the contents is copyable, the recording device 16 receivesthe contents from the recording device 15 having received the commandfrom the CPU 14. When a user gives a command for playing recordedbroadcast contents, the recorded contents is output to the signal outputcontrol portion 17 in accordance with the output selection by the signaloutput control portion 17.

The signal output control portion 17 receives the contents from theexternal signal input portion 12 and the digital broadcast receivingportion 13 and selects signals to be output to a monitor (not shown) forexample, in accordance with a command of the CPU 14. When a user gives acommand for recording the contents, the signal-output control portion 17transfers signals of received contents as record data to the recordingdevice 15 under the control of the CPU 14. The signal output controlportion 17 has a function for reading signals of contents recorded inthe recording device 16 as play data and outputting the play data to amonitor (not shown), for example, under the control of the CPU 14 when auser gives the command for playing the contents.

An operation of the digital broadcast receiver 10 will be describedbelow.

While digital broadcasting is being viewed, a digital broadcast receivedby the front-end portion 13 a is demultiplexed by the demultiplexerportion 13 b. The demultiplexed audio and video signals are decoded bythe decoder portion 13 c and are transferred to the signal outputcontrol portion 17. Then, the resulting signals are output to a displayapparatus such as a monitor (not shown).

When analog signals of contents are received by the digital broadcastreceiver 10 from a VTR, for example, connected thereto through a videoterminal, high frequency noise is removed by the low-pass filter 12 a.The processed data is converted to digital signals by the A/D converter12 b and are transferred to the signal output control portion 17. Then,the resulting signals are output to a display apparatus such as amonitor (not shown).

When a command for recording contents is given by a user through amanipulation on the remote control 20, the remote control receivingportion 11 sends a signal indicating the command to the CPU 14. The CPU14 controls the signal output control portion 17 and transfers thesignals of the contents transferred to the signal output control portion17 to the recording device 15 as record data. With this, the CPU 14having received copy control information of the contents retrieved bythe demultiplexer portion 13 b while digital broadcasting is beingviewed or copy control information detected by the copy informationdetecting portions 12 c and 12 d for analog contents input from theexternal signal input portion 12 discriminates copy control information.Thus, the CPU 14 discriminates whether the received contents is copyableor uncopyable. Here, if determined as copyable, the CPU 14 gives acommand for recording contents in the recording device 15 and transfersthe temporarily recorded contents to the user-readable recording device16. If determined as uncopyable, the contents is not transferred.

In this way, the contents transferred to and recorded in the recordingdevice 16 can be played. When a play command is input by a user througha manipulation on the remote control 20, the remote control receivingportion 11 receives and transfers the signal indicating the command tothe CPU 14. Under the control of the CPU 14, the signal output controlportion 17 outputs, as a signal output, the signals of the contentsrecorded in the recording device 16 based on an output selection.

In this way, when a command for recording contents is given, thecontents is temporarily recorded in a user-unreadable recording device.Then, copy control information attached to the contents is detected, andthe copyability or uncopyability thereof is discriminated. Only ifcopyable, the contents is transferred to a user-readable recordingdevice so that the copyable contents can be recorded without delay.

Control over the copy information detecting portions. 12 c and 12 d ofthe external signal input portion 12 will be described below.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state of control over the copy informationdetecting portions.

As shown in the figure, a structure is provided in which the CPU 14 isconnected to the copy information detecting portions 12 c and 12 dthrough a control line for control or a shared bus such as I²C-bus(where I²C-bus is a trademark of PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N. V.). Thus, theCPU 14 controls the starting and stopping of operations by the copyinformation detecting portions 12 c and 12 d.

A method for recording contents input to the external signal inputportion 12 will be described below which includes control over the copyinformation detecting portions 12 c and 12 d by the CPU 14.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating processing of the recording method.

S10: Determine Whether Recording is Started or is Being Performed

The CPU 14 determines whether a command for recording contents havingbeen input to the external signal input portion 12 is given by a userthrough a manipulation on the remote control 20 or the contents is beingrecorded or not.

Here, if the recording is started or is being performed, the processingadvances to a step S1. If no record commands are given by a user, theprocessing ends.

S11: Record in the User-Unreadable Recording Device

Under the control of the CPU 14, the signal output control portion 17records contents having been input to the external signal input portion12 to the user-unreadable recording device 15.

S12: Wait Until Copy Control is Determined

The CPU 14 discriminates whether the contents is copyable or uncopyablebased on copy control information detected by the copy informationdetecting portion 12 c. Since the determination regarding thecopyability or uncopyability requires a certain period of time, theprocessing waits until the determination is confirmed. Upon confirmed,the processing advances to a step S13.

S13: Determine If the Copy is Ok or not by a First Copy InformationDetecting Portion

For example, the CGMS-A copy control system finishes determining copycontrol information earlier than that of the Macrovision copy controlsystem. Therefore, the CGMS-A copy control system is handled as thefirst copy information detecting portion 12 c. Here, if the result fromthe determination of the copy control information detected by the copyinformation detecting portion 12 c under the control of the CPU 14 atthe step S12 is “copyable”, the processing advances to a step S14. If“uncopyable”, the processing advances to a step S19.

S14: Determine Whether a Second Copy Information Detecting Portion is ONor Not.

The CPU 14 determines whether the copy information detecting portion 12d corresponding to a different copy control system from the one for thecopy information detecting portion 12 c is operating or not.

Here, if operating, the processing advances to a step S16. If not, theprocessing advances to a step S15.

S15: Turn On the Second Copy Information Detecting Portion.

Since it is determined at the step S14 that the copy informationdetecting portion 12 d is not operating, the CPU 14 starts the operationof the copy information detecting portion 12 d. For example, when thecopy information detecting portion 12 d corresponds to Macrovision, thedetection of Macrovision signals is started. Then, the processingadvances to the step S16.

S16: Determine If the Copy is Ok or not by the Second Copy InformationDetecting Portion.

Here, the CPU 14 determines whether the contents input to the externalsignal input portion 12 is copyable contents or not based on the copycontrol information detected by the copy information detecting portion12 d. If copyable, the processing advances to a step S17. If uncopyable,the processing advances to a step S20.

S17: Copy to a User-Readable Recording Device

In the processing up to the step S16, it is determined that the signalsof the contents having been input to the external signal input portion12 are copyable. Thus, under the control of the CPU 14, the signals ofthe contents recorded in the user-unreadable recording device 15 aretransferred to and recorded in the user-readable recording device 16.Then, the processing advances to a step S18.

S18: Display a Message Indicating the Copyability.

In the processing up to the step S16, it is determined that the signalsof the contents input to the external signal input portion 12 iscopyable. Thus, a message indicating the copyability is displayed on adisplay apparatus such as a monitor (not shown) under the control of theCPU 14. Then, the processing ends.

S19: Stop the Second Copy Information Detecting Portion.

As a result of the analysis of the copy control information detected bythe copy information detecting portion 12 c by the CPU 14 at the stepS13, it is determined that the contents input to the external signalinput portion 12 is uncopyable. Thus, the copy information detectingportion 12 d does not have to operate. Therefore, the CPU 14 sends astop signal to the copy information detecting portion 12 d and stops theoperation thereof.

S20: Display a Message Indicating the Uncopyability.

Since it is determined the contents is uncopyable from the step S13 orthe step S16, a message indicating the uncopyability is displayed on adisplay device such as a monitor (not shown) under the control of theCPU 14. Then, the processing ends.

As described above, in accordance with a determination result regardingdetected copy control information, the CPU 14 controls operations of thecopy information detecting portions 12 c and 12 d. Thus, when multiplecopy control systems exist, an operation of the copy informationdetecting portion, which does not have to detect copy controlinformation, can be terminated. Therefore, the processing power of themicrocontroller can be improved through communication of detected datawith the microcontroller, and the power consumption in the copyinformation detecting portions can be reduced.

Furthermore, when multiple copy control systems exist, priority is givento copy information detection. Thus, processing for detection anddiscrimination can be simplified.

In the description above, priority is given to the determination on copycontrol information of the copy information detecting portion 12 c butis not limited thereto.

The priority of control of the copy information detecting portions withrespect to the contents input to the external signal input portion 12was described above. However, priority may be determined for a case withthe digital broadcast receiving portion 13, and a recording operationmay be performed then.

In the description above, the two copy information detecting portions 12c and 12 d are provided. However, two or more copy information detectingportions may be provided in accordance with three or more kinds of copycontrol system.

In the description above, the user-readable recording device 16 isprovided in the digital broadcast receiver 10. However, an externalapparatus may be provided which is connected to a user-unreadablerecording device 15 through i. Link (where i. Link is a trademark ofSony).

In the description above, a stream of contents to be received by thedigital broadcast receiver 10 is a TS but is not limited thereto. Thesame copy control can be achieved by inputting non-TS streams to thedemultiplexer 13 b.

As described above, according to the present invention, the copyabilityor uncopyability of contents is detected by a copy information detectingunit and is discriminated by a discriminating unit based on copy controlinformation attached to the contents. The contents recorded in auser-unreadable recording unit is transferred to a user-readablerecording unit only when the contents is copyable. Thus, the copyablecontents can be recorded without delay.

Furthermore, uncopyable contents can be prevented from being recorded ina user-readable recording unit.

1. A receiver having a recording unit for recording contents, saidreceiver comprising: an input unit for receiving a record command from auser; a contents receiving unit for receiving analog signalsrepresentative of the contents; a converter unit for converting theanalog signals to digital signals representative of the contents; afirst analog copy information detecting unit for detecting, prior toconversion of the analog signals, copy control information including atleast information relating to copyability or uncopyability of the analogsignals of the contents from the analog signals of the contents inaccordance with a first copy control system, and for outputting a firstcopy control signal representative of the copyability or uncopyabilityresponsive to the first analog copy information detecting unit detectingcopy control information in accordance with the first copy controlsystem; a second analog copy information detecting unit for detecting,prior to conversion of the analog signals, the copy control informationfrom the analog signals of the contents in accordance with a second copycontrol system, and for outputting a second copy control signalrepresentative of the copyability or uncopyability responsive to thesecond analog copy information detecting unit detecting copy controlinformation in accordance with the second copy control system, in whichthe first copy control system is different from the second copy controlsystem and in which a priority is provided to one of the first analogcopy information detecting unit and the second analog copy informationdetecting unit; a discriminating unit for (i) discriminating thecopyability or uncopyability of the contents based on the first andsecond copy control signals output from the first copy informationdetecting unit and the second copy information detecting unit,respectively, and for (ii) supplying a transfer command for transferringthe contents when both of the first and second copy control signalsindicate that the contents are copyable, in which the discriminatingunit discriminates the copyability or uncopyability of the contents byfirst examining the first and second copy control signals from the oneof the first analog copy information detecting unit and the secondanalog copy information detecting unit having the priority andthereafter examining the first and second copy control signals from theother one of the first analog copy information detecting unit and thesecond analog copy information detecting unit; a signal output controlunit for receiving, from the converter unit, the converted digitalsignals representative of the contents, and for outputting the converteddigital signals for any of display and recordation; a user-unreadablefirst recording unit for receiving and recording thereat the converteddigital signals representative of the contents in accordance with therecord command and for transferring the first recorded converted digitalsignals representative of recorded contents therefrom only after receiptof the transfer command; and a user-readable second recording unit forreceiving and recording the first recorded converted digital signalsrepresentative of the contents transferred from the first recording unitin accordance with the transfer command, and for transferring the secondrecorded converted digital signals to the signal output control unitresponsive to a request for the second recorded converted digitalsignals.
 2. The receiver according to claim 1 further comprising asignal output control unit for inputting multiple input contents,selecting the input contents to be output in accordance with a selectionby the user, and selecting the contents to be recorded in the firstrecording unit from the input contents.
 3. The receiver according toclaim 1 further comprising a stop unit for, when the copy controlinformation from the one of the first analog copy control unit or thesecond analog copy information detecting unit having the priority isdetermined as uncopyable by the discriminating unit, stopping anoperation of the other of the first analog copy control unit or thesecond analog copy information detecting unit.
 4. The receiver accordingto claim 1, further comprising a display unit for displaying informationrelating to the copyability or uncopyability, which is determined by thediscriminating unit.
 5. A method for recording contents having copycontrol information including at least information relating tocopyability or uncopyability, the method comprising: converting analogsignals representative of the contents to digital signals representativeof the contents; transferring the converted digital signals to an outputsignal control unit; detecting, prior to converting the analog signals,the copy control information from analog signals representative of thecontents by use of a first analog copy information detecting unit inaccordance with a first copy control system, outputting a first copycontrol signal representative of the copyability or uncopyabilityresponsive to the first analog copy information detecting unit detectingcopy control information in accordance with the first copy controlsystem; detecting, prior to converting the analog signal, the copycontrol information from the analog signals representative of thecontents by use of a second analog copy information detecting unit inaccordance with a second copy control system, outputting a second copycontrol signal representative of the copyability or uncopyabilityresponsive to the second analog copy information detecting unitdetecting copy control information in accordance with the second copycontrol system; in which the first copy control system is different fromthe second copy control system and in which a priority is provided toone of the first copy control system and the second copy control system;discriminating the copy control information of the contents based thefirst and second copy control signals output from the first analog copyinformation detecting unit and the second analog copy informationdetecting unit, respecitvely, in which the discriminating discriminatesthe copyability or uncopyability of the contents by first examining thefirst and second copy control signals output from the one of the firstanalog copy information detecting unit and the second analog copyinformation detecting unit having the priority and thereafter examiningthe the first and second copy control signals output from the other oneof the first analog copy information detecting unit and the secondanalog copy information detecting unit; outputting, from the outputsignal control unit, the converted digital signals for any of displayand recordation; receiving and storing the converted digital signals ina user-unreadable first recording medium; supplying a transfer commandsignal for transferring the first recorded converted digital signalsresponsive to the first and second copy control signals output from boththe first copy information detecting unit and the second copyinformation detecting unit indicating that the contents are copyable;transferring the first recorded converted digital signals to auser-readable second recording medium from the first recording mediumonly in response to the transfer command; not transferring the firstrecorded converted signals to the second recording medium from the firstrecording medium in the absence of the transfer command; and outputting,to the output signal control unit for display, the second recordedconverted digital signals in response to a request for such secondrecorded converted digital signals.